American Worldview Inventory 2020 – At a Glance AWVI 2020 Results – Release #3: Perceptions of God Americans Continue to Redefine – and Reject – God April 21, 2020 Groundbreaking new research about American faith and worldview shows that although we proclaim “In God We Trust” on our currency, a slim 51% majority of Americans believe in a biblical view of God – down from 73% thirty years ago. Increasingly, the research finds mounting evidence that Americans are both redefining – and rejecting – God. Stunningly, Americans are more confident about the existence of Satan than they are of God. Overall, 56% contend that Satan is an influential spiritual being, yet almost half (49%) are not fully confident that God truly exists. And 44% of believe Jesus Christ sinned while on Earth. Americans are also confused about the nature of the Holy Spirit, with over half—52%—saying that “the Holy Spirit is not a living entity, but merely a symbol of God’s power, presence or purity." According to the latest release of findings from the American Worldview Inventory 2020 by Dr. George Barna, Director of Research for the Cultural Research Center, some of the largest drops in belief in a biblical description of God in the past 30 years are among youngest Americans ages 18 to 29 (down 26 points), oldest Americans, i.e., born before 1946 (down 25 points), and women (down 25 points). The largest drop was among those attending Pentecostal or charismatic Protestant churches (down 27 points). Only those in households with income at least 20% above the national average saw an increase (up 2 points). Overall the study found a 50% drop in biblical worldview in America in the past 30 years, from 12% to the current 6%—the lowest number ever recorded. Here are other key AWVI 2020 findings from this release: ñ A major shift in beliefs about God shows dramatically increasing skepticism about His existence. Those who say “a higher power may exist, but nobody really knows for certain” has exploded from 1% of the public 30 years ago to 20% today. ñ Americans are almost evenly divided on the nature of Jesus Christ. Overall, 44% agreed that “when He lived on earth, Jesus Christ was fully divine and also fully human, and therefore committed sins, like other people.” Slightly fewer (41%) viewed Jesus as fully divine and fully human, and sinless while on earth. ñ Among those least likely to possess an orthodox biblical view of God: o “nones,” i.e., atheists, agnostics, with no religious interest or associations (9%); o political liberals (35%); o adults who self-identify as LGBTQ (36%); o and adults 18 to 29 years old (38%). This latest CRC report, “Americans Continue to Redefine – and Reject –God,” is the third of 12 biweekly releases from the AWVI 2020. The full release of these results follows. 1 American Worldview Inventory 2020 Results – FULL Release #3: Perceptions of God Americans Continue to Redefine – and Reject – God Dr. George Barna, Director of Research, Cultural Research Center Released: April 21, 2020 Half of all American adults believe that their money contains a lie. That’s one conclusion you might draw from a new report based on a nationwide survey conducted by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University. Every piece of paper currency printed in the United States contains the words, “In God We Trust.” The new survey, however, reveals that only half of American adults (51%) believe in a traditional, biblical view of God as the “all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect and just creator of the universe who still rules the world today.” In fact, faith in a deity fitting that description has plummeted from three-quarters of adults thirty years ago (73% in 1991) to the present-day statistic of barely half of American adults. This and other insights regarding views about spiritual beings are drawn from the American Worldview Inventory 2020, an annual nationwide survey conducted by the Cultural Research Center. That survey reveals that only 6% of U.S. adults have a biblical worldview – that is, a way of thinking and behaving that is predominantly driven by the acceptance of biblical truths, precepts, and commands. This latest report based on the AWVI 2020 indicates that a significant reason for the small number of people with a biblical worldview is the dramatic rise in the popularity of disparate and unbiblical views that Americans have adopted concerning God. Prevailing Descriptions about Deity Half of the nation accepts the orthodox biblical view of God as one who created and controls the universe; is omnipotent, omniscient, and without fault; and is just in His decisions. But what about the other half of the population? Alternative views about the being, or some concept of a divine presence, can be summarized in five contrasting options. ñ One-fifth of the public (20%) embraces a conventional agnostic perspective: “a higher power may exist, but nobody knows for certain.” ñ One-tenth (10%) possess a common “new age” or modern mystical point of view, claiming that “‘God’ refers to the total realization of personal, human potential or a state of higher consciousness that a person may reach.” ñ A traditional atheistic view – i.e., that “there is no such thing as God” – is a view held by 6% of U.S. adults. ñ Less common views include the 4% who possess a polytheistic view (“there are many gods, each with different powers and authority”) and 3% who are pantheistic (“everyone is god”). ñ The remaining 6% of the public does not know what to think about the notion of God. 2 Belief Segments Which people groups are most likely to embrace the orthodox biblical view of God? The AWVI 2020 data indicates that such a belief is most likely to be held by Integrated Disciples (i.e., adults with a biblical worldview – 97%); SAGE Cons (Spiritually Active Governance Engaged Conservative Christians – 92%); born-again Christians (84%); political conservatives (70%); blacks (62%); upscale individuals (i.e., college graduates with above average household income, 59% having a biblical God view); Republicans (67%); and people 50 or older (57%). In addition, the South is the only region that has more than half of its residents maintaining an orthodox biblical understanding of God (59%). Among those who are least likely to possess an orthodox biblical view of God are the “nones” (i.e., atheists, agnostics, those who have no religious interest or associations, 9% of whom have a biblical view of God); political liberals who are Independent (23%); adults associated with non-Christian faiths (29%); political liberals, regardless of their party affiliation (35%); adults who self-identify as LGBTQ (36%); and adults 18 to 29 years old (38%). Changes in 30 Years Apart from the huge drop in the proportion of adults who believe in a biblical view of God – down from 73% to just 51% – the survey also showed that the major shift in beliefs about God during those three decades has been a dramatic increase in the proportion who say “a higher power may exist, but nobody really knows for certain.” That group has exploded from 1% of the public thirty years ago to 20% today. The only other perspective that has grown in popularity is the traditional atheist view: “there is no such thing as God.” Since 1991 that belief has expanded from 1% to 6% of adults. One perspective on deity that experienced a significant decline in the past thirty years is the belief that “God refers to the total realization of human potential, or a state of higher consciousness that a person may reach.” Acceptance of that view has diminished from 16% to 10%. The largest declines in possession of an orthodox, biblical perspective on the nature of God since 1991 were among individuals who attend Pentecostal or charismatic Protestant churches (down by 27 percentage points); people in the 18 to 29 year old category (down 26 points); adults in the Elders generation, (i.e., people born before 1946, down 25 points); and women (down 25 points). The sole subgroup of the population to experience an increase in those who have a biblical view of God were people whose household income is at least 20% above the national average. That segment registered a very small increase (two percentage points). Other Views about God A majority of Americans (57%) also stated that they believe “it is impossible to be certain about the existence of God; it is solely a matter of faith.” About one-third of the public (36%) disagreed with that view and 8% were not sure. The survey also found that seven out of ten Americans (71%) say they “have no doubt that God loves you unconditionally.” Digging deeper, the survey showed that seven out of ten adults (70%) who consider God to be personal, powerful and perfect also believe without a doubt that they are loved unconditionally by God. 3 Further, the research revealed that two out of three adults (66%) believe “God has a reason for everything that happens” to them. Just one-third of the public (34%) said they “wonder if God is really involved” in their life. Most people (60%) say they do not harbor such doubts. An examination of the views of adults who have a biblical understanding of the existence of God and their views about other aspects of God is instructive. The survey showed the following: ñ Only half (51%) of those with a biblical view of God also believe that it is possible to be certain that God exists. That means nearly half of those who believe in a personal, powerful and perfect God – 45% – also believe that certainty about the God they believe in is impossible.